We left with Rosie to do a reading program at a special school (Leading Edge High School). The Sunrise Club mentors and reads to the students there on a weekly basis. I was assigned a young girl to read with when I got there and we went to a desk and began the exercise. I was shocked that someone 11 years old has such a challenge reading. She could with great effort say the word, many of them with help, but by the time we reached the end of the sentence the message or meaning must have been lost. I would repeat the sentence most times so she could follow the story. The message here is that its much worse than many of us realize and we really need to focus on Literacy if there is to be any learning at all.
From there we went to the Great House where we began our tour of projects. Our first stop was at T. E. McField Youth and Community Center where the meals are prepared for the Meals On Wheels program. 70 meals a day 5 days a week year round. A very large undertaking but done very well. Rotarian Stephanie was with ADG Sophia escorting us and she does one run a week so she really did an exceptional job helping us understand what went on. We also saw that there all of Grand Cayman is not as pristine as you may see from the main roads.
We then went to Georgetown Primary where the Grand Cayman has help furbish some of the classrooms. I have never seen such a well maintained and set school. This is a public primary school, and they rank best in results in the Cayman public system. Amazingly they are on par with the results in the private system. 
We then went on to Bonaventure Boys home where they take care of young men that the courts have sent there. They try to keep them until they can be integrated safely back into society. Rotary has supported the place and program for a long time. There is a need for a workshop which the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman will be helping with.
We visited the park that the Rotary Central Club completed during the District Conference. It is well used and now sits opposite the town square one done by the government. It is used more because it has shade and the town square has not a single shrub!
We went to The Pines which is a seniors home which was badly damaged during the Hurricane. Sue showed us around and we saw the industrial washer and dryer that Rotary had been able to arrange for them. A senior gentleman called me over when no one else was around and asked me to help him stand up. As I was doing so the entire staff came running over saying “He Can’t stand up” so I let him back down. Using some very historical expletives he told the care givers in no uncertain terms what he thought about them interrupting the exercise, but they did know best. Interestingly while having dinner that evening with the Governor, he shared that he had had exactly the same experience with the same gentleman.
We had the opportunity to meet with the Governor of the Cayman Islands his Excellency Stuart Jack. A very informed and interesting person who is an honorary Rotarian. It was a great visit and we got to enjoy dinner with himself and PDG Bobby after the wine tasting at Sophia’s at a new restaurant in PDG Bobby’s new Governors Square. That is an amazing place and PDG Bobby has made it state of the art and hurricane proof. He has also generously built in a 28 person board room that would marvel Donald Trump, and he has done it to make it available to community service organizations so they have a place to have board and committee meetings.
Michael, The MC and organizer of the event. Great job Michael!
His Excellency Governor Stuart Jack at Spohia and Pauls home. Thanks for the experience and having us in your beautiful home.
Sophias message. " Nobody leaves until the wine is gone!!"
The beginning of a roudy croud begun by PDG Bobby!On Saturday we had Club Forum followed by training session for new Rotarians. It was very well attended and went very well. After lunch we did some training for current and incoming Board members. Again, well attended and very interactive. We had good representation from both Rotaract clubs there and their contribution was exceptional.
Cathy and Cayman Brac President during the training.We are off to Turks and Caicos tomorrow and return Wednesday. We have two clubs to visit there on two Islands, Providenciales and Grand Turk.
We’ll be in touch soon
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